Gripping-machine for cable roads



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1..

. P. W. WOOD & J. FOWLER.

GRIPPING MACHINE FOR CABLE ROADS. No. 448,287. Patented Mar. 1'7, 1891.

(No Model.) 2 Sheets--Sheet 2. P. W. WOOD & J. FOWLER.

GRIPPING MACHINE FOR CABLE ROADS.

No. 448.287. Patented Mar. 17, 1891.

Jay 6 119.7

00 lwmmnum o O ;rlkllllllllllllllllllllll O O 1mm:unmnunmnm NITED STATES ATENT Fries.

FRED \V. lVOOD AND JOHN FOW'LER, OF LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA.

GRlPPlNG-MACHINE FOR CABLE ROADS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 448,287, dated March 17, 1891.

Application filed June 23, 1890. Serial No. 356.506. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that we, FRED \V. WOO]) and JOHN FOWLER, citizens of the United States, residing in the city of Los Angeles, in the county of Los Angeles and State of California, have jointly invented an Improved Gripping- Machine for Cable Roads, of which the following is a specification.

Our invention rel-ates to gripping devices for use in cable roads for connecting the car or dummy with the moving cable, and is an improvement on the methods now used.

The objects are to provide a simple, light, easily adjusted and repaired, and at the same time a strong and effective gripping attachment. e attain these objects by the mechanism illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a side view of one form, of our improved grip, showing the same operated by a hand-wheel and long-threaded screw. The power can be equally as well applied by a lever and toggle-joint attachment. The dotted lines in Fig. 1 show the relative position of the moving parts when the grip is given its maximum movement or throw. It is obvious that the extent of this is governed by the screw or lever attachment, as the case may be, and the stop (Z. A piece of cable is shown in place in one side of the grip. This view also shows that the lower jaw is the movable one. Fig. 2 is an end view of the same gripping mechanism with the cable in place 011 one side. This view also shows that the device is double-actingthat is, a cable can be taken 011 either side of the grip. This renders this grip very desirable for use in single-track roadsthat is, those that have both cables in one channel-and also for double-track roads one side is used going one way and the other side when going in the op posite direction. Fig. 3 is a top view of the lower jaw F of the gripping mechanisnnand shows how said jaw is placed on the travelin g blade of the grip; also, the two cells, one on each side, in which the dies of cast-iron or other sultable material are placed; also, the rollers or small grooved pulleys, two on each side, upon which the cable travels until it receives the pressure of the dies. One roller onlyon each side is shown in position in the drawings; also, it shows the dovetailed halfround piecesinserted into proper recesses and projecting outwardly and inside of the grooves in the pulleys to prevent them from working off their axles; also, the general shape of the said lower jaw, and the *nose is carried out beyond the dies and pulleys, and is beveled so as to prevent the grip from coming in contact with any obstruction. Fig. 4. is a side view of one end of the said lower jaw on an enlarged scale, showing the same with one pulley, the dovetailed piece, and the horn e part of one die, and of the movable blade. Fig. 5 is a bottom view of the upper cross-head I, showing the two halves of the same together and the recess 7L for the bushing K. Fig. 6 is an inside view of one-half of the upper cross-head 1, showing its construction and the recess for the bushing K. Fig. 7 is a side view of the bushing K. Fig. 8 is a bottom View of the bushing K. Fig. 9 is an enlarged view of the horn e and the removable side plates f. I

Si milar letters refer to similar parts throughout the different drawings.

The grip is supported by the horizontal bars A, which are secured to suitable portions of the dummy or truck. The stationary blades B are secured to the horizontal bars A by the bolts 0, and on the downwardly-projecting ends of the blades 13 are bolted or riveted the upper gripping-jaws D. The upper grippingjawsD are preferably made of brass,cast-steel, or mitis metal, and are made in two parts, one to be applied to each side of the stationary blades B, and bolted or riveted thereto at the extreme lower ends thereof, thus leaving a space between the two stationary blades B and the two sides of the upper gripping-jaws D, through which passes the movable blade E, carrying on its lower extremity the lower gripping-jaw F. Each side of the upper grippingjawD has cast in it arecess orcell, into which is inserted the upper die G, which projects a small distance below the jaw D. The dies G are prevented from dropping out by the small pins of wrought-iron or other suitable material l-I, which pass through suitable holes in the jaws D and dies G. As the dies perform the office of gripping the cable they become worn, and by taking them out and placing thin strips of metal in the cells and then inserting the dies the daily wear can be accounted for and the dies worn nearly out.

Upon the upwardly-projecting ends of the stationary blades B is secured the cross-head I, which is preferably made in halves, of steel, brass, or mit-is metal, and bolted to the upper ends of the stationary blades The crosshead I projects slightly beyond the blades B, and is suitably recessed, so as to form guides, through which the stay-frame J travels as the grip is opened or closed. In the cross-head I a suitable recess h is provided, into which is set the brass bushing K, which is bored and provided with a screw-thread on its inside, through which works the long-threaded screwshaft L. The bushing K is made of suitable shape (see Figs. 7 and 8) to be held between the two parts of the cross-head I, and not to have any movement, and is provided for the purpose of economy, as when the thread becomes worn it is only necessary to provide a new bushing instead of an entirely new crosshead, as would be the case if the cross-head I were in one piece and a screw-threaded hole tapped through it for the screw L. Upon the lower end of the screw-shaft L is attached the cross-head M by allowing the lower end of the shaft L to pass through a suitable hole in the cross-head M and securing the same with the collar N, the nut O, and the pin 1 The cross-head M is bolted to the movable blade E by the bolts Q. The ends of the cross-head 11 project outwardly beyond the stationary blades B, inclosing said blades B, and are bolted to the lower ends of the stay-frame J by the bolts R. Thus the stationary blades B form guides upon which the cross-head M moves up and down as the screw-shaft L is turned by the hand-wheel S.

The stay-frame J, projecting upwardly from the cross-head M through the guides formed by the projecting ends of the cross-head I, is formed into a collar T at its uppermost part, through which passes'the screw-shaft L, thus forming a stay or guide which gives stiffness and stability.

On the extreme lower end of the movable blade E is secured by rivets or bolts the lower gripping-jaw F, which is preferably cast in one piece of steel, brass, or mitis metal. The jaw F, of which a top view is shown in Fig. 3 and a partial side view in Fig. 4, is provided with the vertical recess or opening U through its center, extending from the top to the bottom, of proper size for the reception of the lower end of the movable blade E, to which it is securely riveted or bolted by the bolts or rivets V. The jaw F is also provided with the recess or cell W, one on each side of the opening U, and in'these recesses are placed the grip-dies X, of cast-iron or other suitable material. Fig. 3 shows one cell empty and one cell with the die in place. The dies are secured in the cells, substantially as described in the case of the upper gripping-jaw D.

Near each end of the jaw F and in the sides thereof are provided recesses in which are placed the rollers or grooved pulleys Y, which turn on stationary pins or axles Z, which are driven through a suitable hole in the narrow part of the jaw F. These grooved pulleys Y are secured on the pins Z by the cotters 'L passed through the pins Z; but. as the cotters quickly wear out the grooved pulleys Y are in danger of Working off toward the ends of the pins Z, and might cause accident by engaging with obstructions or projecting parts of the permanent way. To prevent this, the dovetailed recesses a are provided in the jaw F, and into these recesses are driven thedovetailed half-round pieces of metal 1), which pro ject outwardly into the grooves of the pulleys Y, and thus prevent them from working off the pins Z even if the cotters t' are worn off; also, the jaw F is provided with the projecting ends 0, which project beyond the pulleys Y and dies X and are beveled so as to prevent accident from contact of the grip with the permanent way or with any obstructions in the channel, as the grip will be pushed to one side and no great shock occur.

The horn c is provided at each end of the jaw F, to serve as a guide to the cable and to prevent it from wearing against the blade E. The horn e is provided with the removable side plates f, which are preferably of steel and are secured to the horn c by rivets, (see Figs. t and 9,) and-as the cable wears these plates they are easily replaced and but little metal is wasted.

To take the cable when our device is being operated, we run the blade E, carrying the jaw F, down by turning the hand-wheel S. When the jaw F is thus lowered below the line of travel of the moving cable, the grip, being supported by the hangers A, resting on suitable portions of the dummy-truck, is free to swing sidewise,the lower edge ofA acting as a center or fulcrum. The top of the grip is pushed to the opposite side from which the cable is to be taken. This causes the lower jaw F to move in the opposite direction or toward the moving cable, and the rollers Y and dies X are thus brought under the cable by running up the screw L by turning the handwheel S, still keeping the grip alittle inclined. The grooved pulleys Y engage the cable, and as the jaw F is drawn toward the jaw D the cable is carried with it, traveling in the mean time on the rollers Y. hen the grip is nearly closed, the cable meets the upper die Gand is forced downward between the rollers Y and against the lower die X. The motion of the cable is gradually imparted to the car or dummy and they start easily, and when the dies are firmly closed on the cable there is no slip of the cable through them and the train takes the motion of the cable. To let go the cable it is only necessary to run the screw down a turn or two and tip the top of the grip toward the side which has the cable, the whole grip swinging sidewise on the lower edge of the hangers A as a center or fulcrum. This carries the lower jaw in the opposite direction, and the cable drops out of the grip onto the carrying-pulleys in the channel.

The train can be readily stopped and started without letting go the cable entirely, as a slight turn of the hand-Wheel will release the dies and let the cable travel on the grooved pulleys 'Y.

What we claim as our invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. The combination, in a gripping device for cable roads, of the lowerj aw F, havingits ends pointed by beveling the sides for a short distance and being provided with the recesses on the sides for the pulleys Y, and the dovetailed recesses a for the half-round dovetailed pieces I), and the cells or nests \V for the dies X, and the upwardly-projectinghorns e, fitted with the removable side pieces f, the whole forming the lower jaw of the grip and being hung on the movable plate E, the stationary upper jaw D, fastened to the stationary plates B, the stationary cross-head I, the movable cross-head M, fastened to the movable plate E and traveling between the stationary plates 13, and the peculiar-shaped bushing or nut K, fastened in the stationary cross-head. l and through which the screw S works, the screw traveling with the'movable blade E, the nut K remaining stationary, as set forth in the drawings and specification.

2. The combination,inagripping device for cable roads, of thehalf-rou nd dovetailed pieces Z1, with the grooved pulleys Y, the piecesbbeing set into recesses aand the half-round side projecting into the groove of the pulleys Y, thereby preventing the pulleys from coming off, substantially as set forth in the drawings and specification.

The combination, in a gripping device for cable roads,of the upWardly-projecting horns e on the lower jaw F, with the removable side pieces f for the prevention of wear, substantially as set forth in the drawings and specification.

FRED W. WOOD. JOHN FOlVLER. Witnesses;

WM. '1. LAMBEL, EDGAR E. LEFIBORE. 

